Bookish Musings is a feature here at Beautiful Bookish Butterflies that allows one of us to share our thoughts and opinions, talk and discuss things happening in the book and blogging community or share a personal book related issue we have. Today, Amanda is talking about how she went from being a ploygamist reader to a monogamist reader and how it's affecting not only her reading and the amount she reads, but how much she enjoys it too.
It seems I am obsessed with referring the connection I have to books as something like a relationship, having previously talked about my relationship with series and making a commitment to series, but today it's not just about series, it's about books in general and how I was a serious polygamist until recently. I used cheat on books, and the worst thing? I'm wasn't even shamed of it. From the moment I picked up reading again in August 2012 I was a polygamist; I was reading both Clockwork Angel and The Girl I Left Behind. Now, don't get me wrong, The Girl I Left Behind got very much left behind because I focused all my attention on Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, but in the time between then and now, I'd become something of a serious cheater, reading up to six 'books' at one time, and I absolutely loved it.
What Used To Happen
I always used to have at least two books on the go at any one time, my physical book and my digital book. The biggest reason I always had two books on the go is because I can't access my Adobe Digital Reader anywhere other than at home because I don't have a Kindle or Nook of sorts and don't want to drain my phone battery, so the ARC's or digital copies are read at home, and the physical copy is read alongside it. With me so far? Sound justifiable up to now? Good. Now, sometimes I'd just read another book right inbetween these books, for no other than because I want to, and these books are usually read within a night or two, so I see nothing wrong with that decision. Then, a few months ago, I'd adopted the method of taking a completely different physical book with me when I'm out on travels to read on the bus, during college lunches and even in waiting rooms; not only that, this book also got read in bed alongside the other two books mentioned previously, so then I had at least three books on the go at any one time. Now, this is where things become complicated. Sometimes I would trade one book for another, even if I'm enjoying it, for example, the other month, I was reading Prince of Shadows and was enjoying it yet for some unbeknownst reason, I put it down and started a different book instead. At that point in time, it meant I was reading a digital book, two physical books and and Prince of Shadows because I hadn't dnf'd it. That's four books people, not to mention the fact that I would sometimes throw in a comic or graphic novel one night, or have an anthology or novellas on the go at the same time. At any one time I would have six books on the go and I loved the excitement and variety that came with it.
This is where things started to change..
Around a three months ago, I started adopting a monogamist method of reading, reading one, and at a push, two books at any given moment and I thought that after being a polygamist that it would be difficult to kick start a new habit, but it worked and changed so quickly and so subtly I didn't really notice it until April when I was marathoning lots of different series. I made my way through the first two books of Faith, the first two books of The Dead Girls Detective Agency, books two to six of Gallagher Girls and the whole Curse Workers series in a two month period, spending two days at most on each installment and it was fantastic. It was amazing to be fully immersed into one world with one set of characters for the whole night with no other fantasy series distractions or book boyfriends to lure me away. I would dedicate the time and effort to these books, these plots and these characters, and surprisingly, I started handing out 4 stars like snow in Canada. 4 stars here and 4 stars there, with three of those four series focusing very much on 4 star ratings and I started to think that reading one, maybe two books at any one time wasn't a bad thing, and that in fact, logically, and systematically, I was getting through more books this way. I was actually enjoying it more than before.
What I'm Like Now
Honestly, I'm still settled in my monogamist ways right now. I'm enjoying reading books in quick burst and being with these characters for longer periods of time. I'm loving that I can take 4 hours in a day and read an entire 300 page book and feel proud and I'm loving the feeling of getting through so many books when I have the time. I don't think I could go back to reading so many books at once; it would confuse me and I think it would affect how well I could write my reviews, discussions and would in turn affect my steady stream of reading and writing. I'm quite happy reading books quicker and in fewer nights, and the idea of dedicating the time to one is actually really enjoyable, much like searching all of these Sherlock gifs was, so for the giggles, have another one.
I usually read only one book at a time. I have read more than one at a time but I always found I would spend more time on one book and completely forget about the other one. I like reading only one book at a time because I'm able to get more into the book (and fangirl about the fictional guys). Sometimes I do want to read more than one book (like when a book has just been released and I really want to read it but am still reading another book) but I try to read it after I finish the book that I'm reading :)
ReplyDeleteI used to find that and then I'd just leave one behind for aaaaages. It's interesting to see why you read just one, I can totally understand why though, it can be difficult reading two at once because you can't immerse yourself into them properly :)
DeleteHaha, that initial warning. I definitely proceeded with caution after that. No bursting ovaries over here!
ReplyDeleteI'm personally a monogamist. I only read one book at a time, unless something comes up - like I'm not into a book so I just need a "break" to "explore my other options" or if I need to read something for uni/work. But, I don't think there's anything wrong with bloggers/readers who are polygamists or who flip back and forth. Read in whatever way works for you! Just because I only like to read one book at a time, doesn't mean others have to only read one book at a time :)
Oh good, that would be extremely painful. I think that's an important things Asti, everyone has different methods of reading, some like reading many, others one at a time and I think that's what makes us all different reviewers, how we read affects it so much. Thank you for linking me in your Weekly Recap hunny :)
DeleteFirstly, I approve of your gif selections.
ReplyDeleteThen secondly...ohhhh, well. *twitches nervously* I do have a confession. I CHEAT ON BOOKS ALL THE TIME. Gosh! I'm so bad. I never stay true to a series. Like I've been on and off Gallgaher Girls for years, and like only a million other books. I must've broken up with Inkdeath like 6 years ago but I still swear we're getting back together for Inkspell/Inkdeath. I'M SO UNFAITHFUL.
Oh goody! Being unfaithful isn't always bad though Cait, you get to have a taste of everything before picking a favourite, just like cake! Who doesn't enjoy taking some of something here and some there and loving each piece eh? ;)
DeleteReally interesting topic Amanda! Sometimes I have had 3 books at one time in the past but these days, I like to focus on just 1 book so I can fully immerse myself into the story. And if the book wasn't capturing my attention, I'd know that it wasn't just because I was reading another book. I'm completely the same, I carry a book with me everywhere I go but it is always the book that I'm reading at that one time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeann :) I do think focusing on one book now is something that is hugely comfortable for many of us, getting in one world, with one group of characters for a period of time, it's a wonderful feeling and I couldn't image changing my ways again. I think most of us carry books everywhere, we'd be bad readers if we didn't :P
DeleteI'm a huge cheater, haha. I can't seem to stick with only one book and I've always been that way. There is something about reading several books at the same time that works for me. I'm a mood reader, so perhaps that's why I read more books at the same time (and one of them is always a physical copy, one of them an e-book to catch up with my eARC's) I always find it interested to see how someone reads! Funny to see how you suddenly switched to the other side :)
ReplyDeleteBeing a mood reader can result in being a multi-books reader, it just depends on which mood for which book right? I still don't understand how I switched really, but it really worked for me, so I wouldn't change it for the world :)
DeleteI read several books at the same time and I'm not ashamed of it! Haha. I have a short attention span. Like, I'd read this book, but if it doesn't catch my attention long enough, I'll have to read another book to keep myself going or else I'd be falling asleep like it's hibernation season. And like Mel, I'm also a mood reader. I can be very unpredictable when it comes to what I feel like reading. And if you see my Goodreads page, I still have LOADS of stuff I need to read in my currently-reading shelf. Erk...
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato Reviews
I can understand that, if I start going off a book, I tend to put it down and forget it and start it back up another time in the future, but only if I really have avoided it for a while. Short attention span explains to the reading several though :)
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